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My son and I did very well with a gray X`Caddis on the Madison last summer. Caught some really nice browns with them.
This is nearly the same fly (size 14), but I added a thorax of dubbed-loop squirrel hair to increase the "leggy" effect of the fly.
http://i1101.photobucket.com/albums/...ps7d0f4958.jpg
I tie all mine with spikey squarril dubbing. They look great and work great too. I don't put it in a loop like yours but might start, love the buggy look. I have caught some super selective trout on them in low clear water.
Byron,
Did you mix anything in with the squirrel? It looks like there is some shiny, reflective material in there, too. May just be the picture.
Joe
Kind of reminds me of the CDC & Elk whichhas a reputation of producing for both caddis and mayfly hatches. Your fly looks similarly "buggy"., so I'm wondering what hatches you had success fishing with this fly?
John,
It was actually a "reverse hatch"....what I call it.......female caddis in the late afternoon and early evening returning to lay eggs. It was in the first week or so of July.
If I can find photos, I will post a couple.
Byron, the Xcaddis is a great fly and I like your tie and the addition of the squirrel legginess!
I used to tie the wing on an X-caddis like the wing on an EHC. I now tie the wing a bit shorter on an X-caddis.
I've talked to Craig Mathews about the X-caddis. Craig Mathews explained that the X-caddis has a shorter wing than the EHC. He says that you can tie it as long as the shuck but I do not. It is an emerging wing. I can't prove it, but I personally think that a shorter wing indicates an insect in an earlier stage and more vulnerable to the fish. So if you are going to make a mistake in wing length, better to it tie it a bit shorter rather than longer.
Take a look at the link to Dave Hughes book below and compare the wing length on the EHC (flies 1-4) in the photo to the X-caddis (flies 5-6) to see the difference.
Essential Trout Flies By Dave Hughes
In the video below Craig ties the wing as long as the body. Notice how short he clips the shuck.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QvCw0DrINS0
Hans Weilenmann also does not tie the wing on his CDC and Elk beyond the hook bend.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NJyIbgKYHwY
John,
This is not the largest caught that day, but probably representative of the avg. size. More than their size, they were beautiful fish. The whole day, I did not wade in the water. My son (pictured here) did, but I fished just from the river bank. The browns came in quite close to the bank to feed.
http://i1101.photobucket.com/albums/...ps31e8b785.jpg
And another color I like in this "Hairy X-Caddis" for the Brachycentrus.......if my spelling is correct.
http://i1101.photobucket.com/albums/...psc518cf7e.jpg
Great idea! Looks effective.Quote:
Originally Posted by Byron haugh
So that proves it, Spinner.
Fly with Big Wings, in Big Sky, equals Big Fish. :D
I always tie X-Caddis with a spikier dubbing and on a shorter shank hook than is usual. That's why I tie all our X-Caddis, since the ones we can buy all have tight-dubbed bodies on standard dry fly hooks. I think the short, spiky body looks and works much better. Your bug has the same effect and probably comes from the same thought process.
I like that Byron !!!
PT/TB
Thanks PT.....
You know looking at the fly again I would have to agree, I don't see why this couldn't pass as a mayfly imitation as well. We all have our theories and beliefs about what a fish sees and what attracts them. To me this bug has a trailing shuck, a buggy/leggy body, and a wing.... Looks good to me. I may try these this spring on some mayfly hatches.Quote:
Originally Posted by johnstoeckel
Let us know. I don't doubt it, especially if it matches the size and color of the hatching mayfly.
I tied a shorter wing version in a Hydrosychy Caddis color.
http://i1101.photobucket.com/albums/...ps559e8c76.jpg
An egg-laying female with the "hairy legs".
http://i1101.photobucket.com/albums/...ps40ba1c49.jpg